Resumen de Ontological orientation and the practice of rhetoric: A perspective from the Bhagavad Gita
The practice of rhetoric is often conceived of as persuasion. This conception normally entails certain beliefs about persons and the speaking situation. Such orientations are often adopted and advocated in an unreflective manner. This study attemps to analyze this often overlooked aspect to the practice of rhetoric. Problems with the orientation assumed by the standard, persuasion-centered aproach to rhetorical practice will be explored. The apparent alternative offered by the invitational approach also will be examined as to what it leaves unjustified. Using tha ancient Indian text, the Bhagavad Gita, an alternate ontological orientation is offered that reconciles and tempers both the persuasion-centered and invitational approaches. The proposed orientation also provides justification for the ontological assumptions that can be made by the rhetor in her approach to the speaking situation.
